Wheel.



2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES I l INVENTOR WZZ/mffum? ATTORNEY PATBNTED JULY 30, 1907.

W. H. TRABUE.

WHEEL. APPLIQAl-ION FILED 00T.25.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET v2.'

wylTNEssEs:

ATTORNEY` *I K WILLIAM H. TRABUE, OF MONTVAIE, NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

WHEEL Patentes Jury so, 1se7.

Application filed october 25, 190s. serial No. 340,496.

To ell whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. TRABUE, a-citizen of the United States, and a resident of Montvale, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and Iuseful Improvements in Wheels for Automobiles and other Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

'I lie invention relates to improvements in wheels'vor automobiles and other vehicles, and it consists in the novel features, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. A

The object of my invention is to produce a wheel having an efficient and durable spring-cushion tire, whereby/ the occupants of a vehicle equipped with the wheelsy maybe relieved from shock or jar and the difiicul ties incident to the employment of pneumatic tires avoided.

Inearrying out my invention I applyupon thefelly of the wheel suitable rims adapted to receive the spring cushioning means and also a rubber .tire or shoe inclos' ing the same, the whelels being thus. enabled to roll on.

rubber tires and the. springs properly 'inclosed.

I provide a'novel construction and arrangement ofthe springs and their co-acting parts and also a novel constructionof outer shoe ortire to inclose the same, and my invention will be fully understood from the de? tailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a tion through a portion of the spring .cushioning devices on the dotted line 6-j6 of Figj. i

In the drawings I illustrate awheel comprising a hub 10, spokes 11 andyfelly l2,y these features being oi'any usual or suitable iormand construction, and. upon. the

vfelly 12 are applied the metal rims or ,bands 13, 14

which carry allf'of'the features constituting my invenf tion, these beingkthe springcushioning devices and the l outerrubber shoe or tire '15,- whose outline is 4clearly represented in Fig. 4.`

The band 13 is a plain metallic strip encircling the I felly 12 and co-exten sive in width therewith, and upon the band 13 is closely applied the`rimv14, which, ,as

illustrated in Fig. 4, is formed at its edges with out-v wardly extending flanges '16.adapted to confine this SI5 inner edges of the rubber shoe or tire 15 andalsothe clamping bands 17, vas hereinafter explained.-

At equi-distant points around the wheel I apply upon the bands 13, 14, sets of leaf springs, each set being lshown as comprising springs 18, 19, 20, and between preferably of'spring steel and centrally secured upon the outer ends oi rods 23 which extend radially toward the center of the wheel and pass through guiding sleeves 24 which extend within the springs 21 and are secured by threads in the bands 13, 14, the latter being apertured to receive said sleeves. The sleeves 24 also extend through the felly 12 and upon their outer ends are applied hollow caps V25 within which the rods 23, may have a yielding or sliding movement.

Upon the rods 23 within the caps 25 are threaded nuts 26, which ontact with the inner ends of the sleeves 24 and prevent undue outward movement of the springs 2l and bridging plates-22. The springs 2 1 are confined between the bridge-plates 22 and rim 14 and are always under tension,.and by the adjustment of the rods23 by means of the nuts 2G, the said plates 22 may be 4given a .correct initial position and secured against outward movement beyond such position. '(lhe bridging plates 22 areeach on the arc of a circle and said plates at their facing ends are slightly separated vfrom one other, as denoted in Fig. 3, so that upon the compression of the' tire during use the said ends may not strike each other. The bridging plates 22 are each curved on the are of a circle and form in effect-ia sectional metallic rim encircling the wheel, each section being independently mounted and capable 'of independent yielding movement, and it is between this sectional rim andthe rim 14 that the leaf springs 18, 1 9,

2O are located, as maybe seen in Fig. 3. Upon the outer face of the sectional rim formed by the bridging rplates 22 is applied a` band27 of rubber, this band being co-extensive in width with the' plates 22, and convex on its outer periphery, as shown in Fig. 4. The rubber band 27 encircles the entire wheel and closely fits upon the sectional rim formed by the alined curved bridging platesA 22. v

The leaf springs 18, 19, 20 are preferably oval or elongated in outline and are arranged, at each set, one with.

in another. The outer'- spring 2 0 is secured to the rims 13', 14 by means of screws 28 and at itsinner face presses against the rim 14, while at its outer face said spring l overlap each other and are secured by means of the bolt l and nut 32. The spring feature of my tire thus coinspaces between and at their ends are Vseated uponthe leaf springs and forni in effect a sectional outer rim, each` l seat uponwhich said ends oi said plates may bear.

The cndsof the strip ofsteel forming the spring 19 29, which also secures the overlapping ends of the strip ci stcel forming the inner spring 18, and said bolt passes through the rilns 13,14, as shown. The'outer faceof the spring i9 bears against the central outer portion of the spring 20, while the outer face of the inner spring 18 bears against.l a bloeit oi rnbberSOwhich is interposed bctwcen the springs ll9"a.nd 18 and is held by means oi a clip-plate 3l. rwh-ic'hl encompasses, transversely, the rubber band 27jadjoining ends oi the bridging plates 22, springs 20, 19, rubber block 30 and spring i8, as shown'in Figs; 3 and 4, the ends of said plate 3l being brought together within the outline of the spring 18 and .secured by means of a suitable bolt priscsgthe leaf springs, preferably insets, arranged at equi-distant points around thewheel, and the coiled springs disposed between the sets of leaf springs and cooperating with the bridge-plates 22, which bridge 4the section'bearing centrally upon a coiled spring and at its ends upon leaf springs. Upon the sectional rim formed oi the bridging plates 22 is applied the rubber band27, as hereinbeiore explained.. l i

Upon the spring construction hereinbefore described is applied the outer shoe or tire 15, which isa solid tire, with' the exception that it is formed with a narrow chamber adapting it to pass snugly upon 'the rubber band 27 and the features intermediate between said 'band and the rim 14, the sides oi the shoe 15 beingvfull and convex and solid as shown in Fig. 4. Al'. -itsinner edges the shoe 1.5 is formed with the laterally extending integral iianges 33 which fit within the flanges 16 of the h rii'n 14, as shown in- Fig. il, and are bound Within therim 14 by means ot metallic bands 17, 'one of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 2, these bands 17 extending circuinicrentially entirely around the 'flanges 33- -and each being adapted to be "drawn tightly against'its flange 33 by means of a screw '34 which passes through ears 35, 3G formed at the ends oi the yloand 17, the' ear 36 having a threaded interior to receive the thread of said screw. The shoe 15 is thus as nearly solid as the presence oi the spring i'catures will permit and hencesaid shoe will co-aci'fwith said spring features in affording a durable and proper cushion-tire for the wheel.'

My invention is not limited to all of the details of construction hereinhcfore described, 4nor to the employ# ,ment of three leal springs in each set of springs, nor to said leaf springs being technically oval'in outline, since 1 am aware that said springs may be varied in their configuration without modifying their function or detracting irom their utility.

What 1 claim as my invention and desire insecure by Letters-Patent, is: l

1.- A wheel having` secured upon its periphery n .sp'rlng cushion comprising u series of bridging plates constituting a sectional rim, coiled bearing` springs for-the middle por? tions of 4said plates, lent' springs affording seats for the adjacent ends oi' Suid plates, and n band' upon the periphery ot said sectional rim,- combined with an outer-(rubber shoe inclosing said spring features substantially as set forth.

2. A wheelhnvlng secured upon its periphery a spl-iup,- cushion comprising n series of bridglngplates constituting a sectional i'im,'coiled bearing springs for the middle poriions `oi" said plates, leaf springs affording seats for the adjacent ends of said plates', and a hand upon the periphery of said scctinvr rim, combined with an outer rubber shoe inclosing said .spring features and having full convex sides and being solid withr tbc exception of anni-row chamA l i vber formed yth'ei-einto enable the slice to receive said spring features: substantially as set forth.

3'., A 'wheel having secured upon its periphery a springa sectional rim. .coiled bearing springs for the middle por' tionsof'suld'plates, ro'ds' connected withsald plates and extending through said springs and through the felly of the wheel, nuts upon .said` rods forcontrolllng the initial position of said'plites, leaf springsnifordlng seats for the adjacent ends of snidplnte's, and an outer'circu'mferential covering foi-said sectionairim; substantially as set forth. 5. Avwheei having secured upon its periphervn springcushlon comprising u serlcs of bridging plates constituting a sectionall rim, coiled hearing spriues for tli middle lportions of said pla'tes, rods connected with said plates and extending through said springs and through the felly.

of lth'c wheel, nuts upon-said rods for controlling the initial position of said pi1-cosy leaf springs affording seats i'or the adjacent ends of snid"`plates, and an outer'clrcum' ferential covering for 'said sectional rim, combined with an outer rubber shoe lnclosing saidl spring features and having full convex sides and being. solid with thev exception of a narrow chamber formed therein to enablethe shoe` to receive'sald spring features; substantially as sei: foi-th.

ii. A wheel 'havingI secured upon' its periphery asprfngcushion comprising 'a ser-ies of ,bridging plates 'constituting u Sectionalrim, coiled bearing springs for the middle.

portionsof saidA plates, rods connected with said plates' and extending through 'said springs end throughtheieliyof the wheel, sleeves encompassing the inner ends of said `rods within said springs and extending througli'said feily,

nuts upon v'said rods `for controlling the initial positionv 7. A Wheel having secured upon its periphery n spring-l cushion comprising a series of bridging plates constj'tuting.' `a sectional rim, coiled .bearing springs for the middlev portions oi?` said plates, leafsprlngs affording, seats for the adjacent ends o f suid plates and belngrarranged ln' setsv one within the other, n. band upon the periphery of said sectional 'rimfand clip-plates extending' transversely over said band, the adjacent ends of said bridging plates und the outer portion of said leaf springs; substantially as set forth.

8. A wheel having secured upon' its pbriphery a springcushion comprising a series of bridgingv plates constitutingv I u sectional rim, coiled 'bearing springs for the middle portions of lsaid "plates, leaf splrings affording .sente for the adjacent ends of said plates and being arranged lnsets one within the other with arublier .blocky between their o'utcr` portions, n band upon the periphery of sziid' sectional i i the'outer portion of set forth.

Senese v 3f 9. A wheel having secured upon its peripheryU fineitai i' the ,Wheelnnd binding against the said zdel danges of rim having outwardly extending edge anges, and a spring-1 'said shoe; substantially as. set forth. cushionupon said rim and rComprising a series of `lilidvgingy 'sighed-at New: York ity" in "the county 0f New York -piates constituting a-sectionai rim, bearing 'springs inter.-A and -Stte of ,New Yorkvtms 24th day of October A D 5 mediate between the middle portions of said plates nud 1906.

said rim, and bearing sp1-ings intermediate between `the end portions of said platesl and said rini, combined .with an .WILLI-AM H' TRABUE'. 4 outerV rubber shoe inciosng said spring features and imv- Witnesses: l

ing latex-a1 flanges at its inner edges set Within the ianges CHA's. C. Ging 1() of said metal 'i-im, andsecuring bands extending around ARTHUR MARION. 

